July 2020 Latinx Releases

July 1, 2020

SILVER VEINS, DUSTY LUNGS: MINING, WATER, AND PUBLIC HEALTH IN ZACATECAS | Nonfictin

by Rocio Gomez (University of Nebraska Press)

In Silver Veins, Dusty Lungs, Rocio Gomez examines the detrimental effects of the silver mining industry on water resources and public health in the city of Zacatecas and argues that the human labor necessary to the mining industry made the worker and the mine inseparable through the land, water, and air. Tensions arose between farmers and the mining industry over water access while the city struggled with mudslides, droughts, and water source contamination. Silicosis-tuberculosis, along with accidents caused by mining technologies like jackhammers and ore-crushers, debilitated scores of miners. By emphasizing the perspective of water and public health, Gomez illustrates that the human body and the environment are not separate entities but rather in a state of constant interaction.

July 7, 2020

13TH STREET #1: BATTLE OOF THE BAD-BREATH BATS | Chapter Book

by David Bowles; Illus. by Shane Clester (HarperCollins)

Cousins Malia, Ivan, and Dante are visiting their aunt Lucy for the summer. But on their way to Gulf City’s water park, they get lost on 13th Street. Only it’s not a street at all. It’s a strange world filled with dangerous beasts! Will the cousins find their way back to Aunt Lucy’s?

Each story in this hilarious and scary new series from award-winning author David Bowles is designed to set independent readers up for success—with short, fast-paced chapters, art on every page, and progress bars at the end of each chapter!

13TH STREET #2: THE FIRE-BREATHING FERRET FIASCO | Chapter Book

by David Bowles; Illus. by Shane Clester (HarperCollins)

Cousins Dante, Malia, and Ivan are happy to be back in their home town. But then their school bus takes a wrong turn and they end up on 13th Street! There are new monsters to fight, but at least they have their friend Susana and their bus driver to help them. Will the gang ever make it to their first day of class?  

Each story in this hilarious and scary new series from award-winning author David Bowles is designed to set independent readers up for success—with short, fast-paced chapters, art on every page, and progress bars at the end of each chapter!

13TH STREET #3: CLASH OF THE CACKLING COUGARS | Chapter Book

by David Bowles; Illus. by Shane Clester (HarperCollins)

Ivan, Malia, and Dante are excited about their ski trip. There’s no chance they’ll stumble onto 13th Street in the mountains, right? WRONG! After being sucked through a portal, the cousins come face-to-face with joke-telling cougars that are more dangerous than they seem. How will the kids get out of trouble this time?

Each story in this hilarious and scary new series from award-winning author David Bowles is designed to set independent readers up for success—with short, fast-paced chapters, art on every page, and progress bars at the end of each chapter!

ALL THESE MONSTERS | Young Adult

by Amy Tintera (HMH Books for Young Readers)

Seventeen-year-old Clara is ready to fight back. Fight back against her abusive father, fight back against the only life she’s ever known, and most of all, fight back against scrabs, the earth-dwelling monsters that are currently ravaging the world. So when an opportunity arises for Clara to join an international monster-fighting squad, she jumps at the chance.
 
When Clara starts training with her teammates, however, she realizes what fighting monsters really means: sore muscles, exhaustion, and worst of all, death. Scrabs are unpredictable, violent, and terrifying. But as Clara gains confidence in her battle skills, she starts to realize scrabs might not be the biggest evil. The true monsters are the ones you least expect.

FREEDOM, WE SING | Picture Book

by Amyra León; Illus. by Molly Mendoza (Flying Eye Books)

As powerful as it is beautiful, Freedom, We Sing is a lyrical picture book designed to inspire and give hope to readers around the world. Molly Mendoza’s immersive, lush illustrations invite kids to ponder singer/songwriter Amyra León’s poem about what it means to be free. It’s the perfect book for parents who want a way to gently start the conversation with their kids about finding hope in these very tense times we are living in.

MUSE SQUAD: THE CASSANDRA CURSE | Middle Grade

by Chantel Acevedo (Balzer + Bray)

Callie Martinez-Silva didn’t mean to turn her best friend into a pop star. But when a simple pep talk leads to miraculous results, Callie learns she’s the newest muse of epic poetry, one of the nine Muses of Greek mythology tasked with protecting humanity’s fate in secret.

Whisked away to Muse Headquarters, she joins three recruits her age, who call themselves the Muse Squad. Together, the junior muses are tasked with using their magic to inspire and empower—not an easy feat when you’re eleven and still figuring out the goddess within.

When their first assignment turns out to be Callie’s exceptionally nerdy classmate, Maya Rivero, the squad comes to Miami to stay with Callie and her Cuban family. There, they discover that Maya doesn’t just need inspiration, she needs saving from vicious Sirens out to unleash a curse that will corrupt her destiny.

As chaos erupts, will the Muse Squad be able to master their newfound powers in time to thwart the Cassandra Curse . . . or will it undo them all?

OYE, MURO (HEY, WALL): UN CUENTO DE ARTE Y COMUNIDAD (SPANISH EDITION) | Picture Book

by Susan Verde; Illus. by John Parra; Translated by Alexis Romay (Paula Wiseman Books)

Hay un muro en el vecindario de Ángel. A su alrededor, la comunidad es un bullicio de vida: música, baile, risa. El muro, no. Es lúgubre. Un niño decide cambiar eso. Pero no lo puede hacer solo.

Narrado en la prosa elegante de Susan Verde e ilustrado con los tonos vibrantes de John Parra, este formidable libro celebra el poder del arte y su capacidad de contar historias y de unir a las comunidades.

July 14, 2020

RUNNING | Young Adult

by Natalia Sylvester (Clarion Books)

In this authentic, humorous, and gorgeously written debut novel about privacy, waking up, and speaking up, Senator Anthony Ruiz is running for president. Throughout his successful political career he has always had his daughter’s vote, but a presidential campaign brings a whole new level of scrutiny to sheltered fifteen-year-old Mariana and the rest of her Cuban American family, from a 60 Minutes–style tour of their house to tabloids doctoring photos and inventing scandals. As tensions rise within the Ruiz family, Mari begins to learn about the details of her father’s political positions, and she realizes that her father is not the man she thought he was.

But how do you find your voice when everyone’s watching? When it means disagreeing with your father—publicly? What do you do when your dad stops being your hero? Will Mari get a chance to confront her father? If she does, will she have the courage to seize it? 

July 21, 2020

THE TOTAL ECLIPSE OF NESTOR LOPEZ | Middle Grade

by Adrianna Cueva (Farrar, Straus and Giroux)

All Nestor Lopez wants is to live in one place for more than a few months and have dinner with his dad.

When he and his mother move to a new town to live with his grandmother after his dad’s latest deployment, Nestor plans to lay low. He definitely doesn’t want to anyone find out his deepest secret: that he can talk to animals.

But when the animals in his new town start disappearing, Nestor's grandmother becomes the prime suspect after she is spotted in the woods where they were last seen. As Nestor investigates the source of the disappearances, he learns that they are being seized by a tule vieja—a witch who can absorb an animal’s powers by biting it during a solar eclipse. And the next eclipse is just around the corner…

Now it’s up to Nestor’s extraordinary ability and his new friends to catch the tule vieja—and save a place he might just call home.

July 28, 2020

IT IS WOOD, IT IS STONE | Fiction

by Gabriella Burnham (One World)

Linda, an anxious and restless American, has moved to São Paulo, with her husband, Dennis, who has accepted a yearlong professorship. As Dennis submerges himself in his work, Linda finds herself unmoored and adrift, feeling increasingly disassociated from her own body. Linda’s unwavering and skilled maid, Marta, has more claim to Linda’s home than Linda can fathom. Marta, who is struggling to make sense of complicated history and its racial tensions, is exasperated by Linda’s instability. One day, Linda leaves home with a charismatic and beguiling artist, whom she joins on a fervent adventure that causes reverberations felt by everyone, and ultimately binds Marta and Linda in a profoundly human, and tender, way.

SHIRLEY CHISHOLM IS A VERB! | Picture Book

by Veronica Chambers; Illus. by Rachelle Baker (Dial Books)

Shirley Chisholm famously said, “If they don’t give you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair.” This dynamic biography illuminates how Chisholm was a doer, an active and vocal participant in our nation’s democracy, and a force to be reckoned with. Now young readers will learn about her early years, her time in Congress, her presidential bid and how her actions left a lasting legacy that continues to inspire, uplift, and instruct.

LA TRAVESÍA DE SANTIAGO | Middle Grade

by Alexandra Diaz (Paula Wiseman Books)

Las monedas en la mano de Santiago son para el boleto del autobús para regresar a la casa de su abuela abusiva. Pero él rehusa regresar. No lo van a extrañar. Su futuro es incierto hasta que se encuentra con María Dolores, cariñosa y maternal y su joven hija, Alegría. Este encuentro ayuda a Santiago a decidir lo que va a hacer. Va a acompañarlas hasta el otro lado, hasta los Estados Unidos de América.

Emprenden el viaje con muy pocas cosas, solo mochilas con agua y un poquito de comida. Viajar juntos requiere que confíen unos en los otros y Santiago está acostumbrado a ir solo. Ninguno de los tres viajeros se da cuenta de que la travesía a través de México hasta la frontera es solamente el comienzo de su historia.

Flirty 'Island Affair' Will Take You to the Romantic Beaches of Key West

Sara Vance is counting on an upcoming family vacation in Key West, Florida as the perfect occasion to prove to her highly successful doctor siblings and parents that, yes, she is making it as a successful lifestyle blogger, social media influencer, and small business owner and that, yes, she is getting her life together and even has a fiancé to prove it. The only problem? Her fiancé stands her up at the last minute leaving her scrambling.  

Enter Luis Navarro, Key West raised, and hunky firefighter paramedic with the local Fire Department who finds himself with a week of time off on his hands and nothing to do. So, when he runs into a gorgeous tourist in trouble, he agrees to step into the role of pretend boyfriend for the week. The only problem is, as the two plan and execute a 90s rom-com worthy charade, they begin to realize that what started off as a convenient arrangement for both of them might quickly be turning into something more.

Kensington Publishing website.

 Island Affair is Priscilla Oliveras’s first-in-a-series romance and it brings together all the elements of a perfect tropically inspired vacation read; a fake-relationship, plenty of hijinks, and of course, a romance  as hot as the Key West sun. And speaking of Key West, the setting is absolutely a character in its own right and is brought to life through Oliveras’s evocative  prose. The vivid and lush descriptions of idyllic island life, and shout outs to must-visit locations and mouthwatering mentions of the local cuisine will transport you directly onto the tropical island.

 But the real heart of the story lies in the main characters’ family dynamics and relationships. Writing warm, heartfelt, and very real family dynamics has become a feature of Oliveras’s novels, and Island Affair is no different. Sara and Luis’s families are central to the narrative and key in the development of the story and each of the main character’s evolution. Sara’s complicated family dynamics especially come into play as she looks to assert herself as the only non-doctor in the family. Her journey to rebuild their fractured relationship is handled in an honesty and empathic manner and is as much an arc as her romance with Luis. Luis’s large, meddling, but loving Cuban American family also features plenty of complications of their own and several side characters you get to know and love.

 The book also tackles a few serious issues such as mental health and eating disorders. Both Luis and Sara struggle with vulnerability and fractured family relationships based on past trauma. As they learn more about each other and weigh the risk of opening up their heart anew, each must decide how to heal and confront the fact that their pretend relationship might not be quite as pretend as they initially thought.

 Island Affair is the perfect feel-good getaway read to pick up this summer that will transport you to the tropical beaches of Key West from your home. If you are looking for a fun and flirty romance filled with Latinx family dynamics, various great side characters, and a throwback 90s rom com feel, this is one you won’t want to miss!

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Mariana Huerta was born in Mexico City and now lives in New England. She has a B.A. in Economics from the University of Chicago and a background in Higher Education but books are her one true love. She also runs the blog Latinas Leyendo, which aims to highlight and celebrate books by and about Latinx folk. You can also find her book reviews on Twitter and Instagram as @latinasleyendo.

June 2020 Latinx Releases

June 2, 2020

LA LUNA DENTRO DE MÍ | Middle Grade

by Aida Salazar (Scholastic En Español)

La vida de Celi Rivera es un torbellino de preguntas... por los cambios en su cuerpo, por sentirse atraída por un chico por primera vez y por la exploración que hace su mejor amiga de lo que significa ser género fluido.

Pero, sobre todo, por la insistencia de su madre en hacerle una ceremonia lunar cuando le llegue su primer periodo. Se trata de un ancestral ritual mexica que Mima y su comunidad han rescatado, pero Celi se promete a sí misma que NO participará en él. ¿Encontrará dentro de sí la fortaleza necesaria para defender quién quiere ser?

THUNDER RUN | Middle Grade

by Daniel José Older (Scholastic)

Magdalys's connection with the dinosaurs has led the US Army to some important victories, but the Civil War's not over yet and the squad members find themselves fighting deep in the Louisiana bayou. Then General Ulysses S. Grant himself entrusts Magdalys with a top secret mission -- one that the very success of the Union depends on. Because as the friends will soon find out, the United States has more than one enemy.

Imperial troops are gathering along the Mexican border, forming an alliance with the Confederates in pursuit of spreading slavery, and suddenly the Union is facing battles on two fronts. But they are barely holding their own against one army -- how can they possibly defeat two?

As New Orleans is surrounded and desperate battle plans laid, Magdalys and her friends set off to disrupt a scheme that would destroy everything she cares about. But to do it, she'll have to push her dinowrangling skills further than she's ever been able to before. Can Magdalys defeat the fiercest rival she's ever faced and save the fractured nation?

THE WAY TO RIO LUNA | Middle Grade

by Zoraida Córdova (Scholastic)

Eleven-year-old Danny Monteverde believes in magic. He knows that pixie dust is real, that wardrobes act as portals, and that rabbit holes lead to Wonderland. Most of all, he believes that his older sister, Pili, is waiting for him somewhere in Rio Luna, the enchanted land in their favorite book of fairy tales.

Danny doesn't care what the adults say. He knows that Pili isn't another teen runaway. When the siblings were placed in separate foster homes, she promised that she'd come back for him, and they'd build a new life together in Rio Luna.

Yet as the years pass, Danny's faith begins to dim. But just when he thinks it might be time to put foolish fairy tales behind him, he finds a mysterious book in the library. It's a collection of stories that contain hints about how to reach another world. A map to Rio Luna . . . and to Pili.

As his adventure takes him from New York to Ecuador to Brazil, Danny learns that meeting your favorite characters isn't always a dream come true. But nothing will stop him from finding his sister . . . even if it means standing up to the greatest threat the magical realm has ever known.

IMAGINARY BORDERS | Young Adult

by Xiuhtezcatl Martinez; Illus. by Ashley Lukashevsky (Penguin Workshop)

Pocket Change Collective is a series of small books with big ideas from today's leading activists and artists. In this installment, Earth Guardians Youth Director and hip-hop artist Xiuhtezcatl Martinez shows us how his music feeds his environmental activism and vice versa. Martinez visualizes a future that allows us to direct our anger, fear, and passion toward creating change. Because, at the end of the day, we all have a part to play.

CATEGORY FIVE | Young Adult

by Ann Dávila Cardinal (Tor Teen)

The tiny island of Vieques, located just off the northeastern coast of the main island of Puerto Rico, is trying to recover after hurricane Maria, but the already battered island is now half empty. To make matters worse, as on the main island, developers have come in to buy up the land at a fraction of its worth, taking advantage of the island when it is down.

Lupe, Javier, and Marisol are back to investigate a series of murders that follow in the wake of a hurricane and in the shadow of a new supernatural threat.

June 9, 2020

CURSE OF THE NIGHT WITCH | Middle Grade

by Alex Aster (Sourcebooks)

On Emblem Island all are born knowing their fate. Their lifelines show the course of their life and an emblem dictates how they will spend it.

Twelve-year-old Tor Luna was born with a leadership emblem, just like his mother. But he hates his mark and is determined to choose a different path for himself. So, on the annual New Year's Eve celebration, where Emblemites throw their wishes into a bonfire in the hopes of having them granted, Tor wishes for a different power.

The next morning Tor wakes up to discover a new marking on his skin...the symbol of a curse that has shortened his lifeline, giving him only a week before an untimely death. There is only one way to break the curse, and it requires a trip to the notorious Night Witch.

With only his village's terrifying, ancient stories as a guide, and his two friends Engle and Melda by his side, Tor must travel across unpredictable Emblem Island, filled with wicked creatures he only knows through myths, in a race against his dwindling lifeline.

ON THESE MAGIC SHORES | Middle Grade

by Yamile Saied Méndez (Lee & Low)

Minerva Soledad Miranda is determined to reach her goals, despite shouldering more responsibility than the other kids at school--like caring for her two sisters while her mom works two jobs. But one night, Minerva's mom doesn't come home, and Minerva has to figure out what to do. Was Mamá snapped up by immigration enforcement? Will the girls be sent to foster homes or holding centers for migrant kids? Minerva and her sisters can't let anyone know Mamá has disappeared. They'll just pretend everything is normal until she comes back.

Minerva's plan to go it alone falls apart the first afternoon, when her baby sister throws a tantrum during Minerva's audition for Peter Pan. But as the days pass and Minerva grows ever more worried about her mother, something magical seems to be watching out for them: leaving them cupcakes, helping Minerva find money, even steering them to friends and distant family who can help. Eventually, Minerva must make the hardest choice of her life. And when she does, she'll be prepared to face life's challenges--with friendship, hope, and a little bit of fairy magic.

June 16, 2020

ALREADY A BUTTERFLY | Picture Book

by Julia Alvarez; Illus. by Raúl Colón (Holt Books for Young Readers)

With so much to do in so little time, Mari is constantly on the move, flitting from flower to flower, practicing her camouflage poses, and planning for migration. She’s the busiest butterfly around. But does being productive mean she is happy? Mari couldn’t say. The only way she feels like a butterfly is by acting like one. Little does Mari know, the secret to feeling like herself is simply to focus her breath, find her quiet place, and follow her instincts. With the guidance of a thoughtful flower bud, Mari soon learns to meditate and appreciate that she was a butterfly all along.

IT’S NOT A SCHOOL BUS, IT’S A PIRATE SHIP | Picture Book

by Mickey Rapkin; Illus. by Teresa Martinez (Imprint)

The first day of school means the first ride on the school bus. But who will I sit with? What if no one talks to me?

Luckily this isn’t a school bus, it’s a pirate ship!

And this crew has one motto: “One for all and all for FUN!” So set sail on a voyage across the high seas! And prepare to make some pirate buddies along the way in this adventure about overcoming your anxiety.

JULIET RESPIRA PROFUNDO | Young Adult

by Gabby Rivera (Vintage Español)

Juliet Milagros Palante es una adolescente lesbiana puertorriqueña, nacida en el Bronx.  
 
Aún está “en el clóset”, aunque no tanto como ella cree. Una noche antes de viajar a Portland, Oregón, donde ha logrado conseguir un trabajo de verano con su escritora feminista favorita, Juliet le confiesa la verdad a su familia. Pero cuando su anuncio oficial no sale como esperaba, está convencida de que su madre no le volverá a hablar.
 
Pero, Juliet tiene un plan. Bueno, más o menos. Su trabajo con la legendaria autora Harlowe Brisbane, la autoridad suprema en el feminismo, en la anatomía de las mujeres, y en temas “gay”, seguramente le ayudarán a descifrar cómo funciona esto de ser lesbiana y puertorriqueña. Excepto que Harlowe es blanca. Y no viene del Bronx. Y definitivamente no tiene todas las respuestas…
 
En un verano rebosante de fiestas queer, rematado por una aventurilla romántica con una bibliotecaria motociclista y mezclado con intensas exploraciones de raza e identidad, Juliet aprende lo que significa salir del clóset y encajar en el mundo, en su familia y dentro de sí misma.

A SILENT FURY: THE EL BORDO MINE FIRE | Nonfiction

by Yuri Herrera (And Other Stories)

The alert was first raised at six in the morning: a fire was tearing through the El Bordo mine. After a brief evacuation, the mouths of the shafts were sealed. Company representatives hastened to assert that “no more than ten” men remained inside the mineshafts, and that all ten were most certainly dead. Yet when the mine was opened six days later, the death toll was not ten, but eighty-seven. And there were seven survivors.

A century later, acclaimed novelist Yuri Herrera has reconstructed a workers’ tragedy at once globally resonant and deeply personal: Pachuca is his hometown. His work is an act of restitution for the victims and their families, bringing his full force of evocation to bear on the injustices that suffocated this horrific event into silence.

June 23, 2020

THE DREAM WEAVER | Middle Grade

by Reina Luz Alegre (S&S Books for Young Readers)

Zoey comes from a family of dreamers. From start-up companies to selling motorcycles, her dad is constantly chasing jobs that never seem to work out. As for Zoey, she’s willing to go along with whatever grand plans her dad dreams up—even if it means never staying in one place long enough to make real friends. Her family being together is all that matters to her.

So Zoey’s world is turned upside down when Dad announces that he’s heading to a new job in New York City without her. Instead, Zoey and her older brother, José, will stay with their Poppy at the Jersey Shore. At first, Zoey feels as lost and alone as she did after her mami died. But soon she’s distracted by an even bigger problem: the bowling alley that Poppy has owned for decades is in danger of closing!

After befriending a group of kids practicing for a summer bowling tournament, Zoey hatches a grand plan of her own to save the bowling alley. It seems like she’s found the perfect way to weave everyone’s dreams together...until unexpected events turn Zoey’s plan into one giant nightmare. Now, with her new friends counting on her and her family’s happiness hanging in the balance, Zoey will have to decide what her dream is—and how hard she’s willing to fight for it.

SHARUKO: EL ARQUEÓLOGO PERUANO JULIO C. TELLO | Picture Book

by Monica Brown; Illus. by Elisa Chavarri (Children’s Book Press)

Growing up in the late 1800s, Julio Tello, an Indigenous boy, spent time exploring the caves and burial grounds in the foothills of the Peruvian Andes. Nothing scared Julio, not even the ancient human skulls he found. His bravery earned him the boyhood nickname Sharuko, which means brave in Quechua, the language of the Native people of Peru.

At the age of twelve, Julio moved to Lima to continue his education. While in medical school, he discovered an article about the skulls he had found. The skulls had long ago been sent to Lima to be studied by scientists. The article renewed Julio's interest in his ancestry, and he decided to devote his medical skills to the study of Peru's Indigenous history.

Over his lifetime, Julio Tello made many revolutionary discoveries at archaeological sites around Peru, and he worked to preserve the historical treasures he excavated. He showed that Peru's Indigenous cultures had been established thousands of years ago, disproving the popular belief that Peruvian culture had been introduced more recently from other countries. He fostered pride in his country's Indigenous ancestry, making him a hero to all Peruvians. Because of the brave man once known as Sharuko, people around the world today know of Peru's long history and its living cultural legacy.

June 30, 2020

JULIETA AND THE DIAMOND ENIGMA | Middle Grade

by Luisana Duarte Armendariz (Tu Books)

Nine-year-old Julieta is finally about to put a purple pin in her family's world traveling map! She's off to Paris to help her art-handler dad collect pieces for a new exhibit at the Boston Museum of Fine Arts. Sadly, they must leave Julieta's very pregnant mother behind, but they're sure they'll be back before the baby is born. Julieta sees the best of Paris: the Eiffel Tower, the Sacré-Coeur, and plenty of great art. But things go awry when she and Dad walk in on a thief stealing the Louvre's most prized piece--a priceless cursed diamond with a shady history. When Julieta runs for help, she accidentally frees the thief instead! Now Dad's job is in danger and he's become a suspect. Can Julieta determine who the thief really is before it's too late?

CHICANO EATS: RECIPES FROM MY MEXICAN-AMERICAN KITCHEN | Cook Book

by Esteban Castillo (Harper Design)

Esteban Castillo grew up in Santa Ana, California, where more than three-quarters of the population is Latino. Because Mexican food was the foundation of his childhood, he was surprised to see recipes for dishes on popular food blogs that were anything but the traditional meals he grew up eating. He was inspired to create the blog, Chicano Eats, to showcase his love for design, cooking, and culture and provide a space for authentic Latino voices, recipes, and stories to be heard.

Building on his blog, Chicano Eats is a bicultural and bilingual cookbook that includes 85 traditional and fusion Mexican recipes as gorgeous to look at as they are sublime to eat.

MEXICAN GOTHIC | Fiction

by Silvia Moreno-Garcia (Del Rey)

After receiving a frantic letter from her newly-wed cousin begging for someone to save her from a mysterious doom, Noemí Taboada heads to High Place, a distant house in the Mexican countryside. She’s not sure what she will find—her cousin’s husband, a handsome Englishman, is a stranger, and Noemí knows little about the region.   
 
Noemí is also an unlikely rescuer: She’s a glamorous debutante, and her chic gowns and perfect red lipstick are more suited for cocktail parties than amateur sleuthing. But she’s also tough and smart, with an indomitable will, and she is not afraid: Not of her cousin’s new husband, who is both menacing and alluring; not of his father, the ancient patriarch who seems to be fascinated by Noemí; and not even of the house itself, which begins to invade Noemi’s dreams with visions of blood and doom.
 
Her only ally in this inhospitable abode is the family’s youngest son. Shy and gentle, he seems to want to help Noemí, but might also be hiding dark knowledge of his family’s past. For there are many secrets behind the walls of High Place. The family’s once colossal wealth and faded mining empire kept them from prying eyes, but as Noemí digs deeper she unearths stories of violence and madness. 
 
And Noemí, mesmerized by the terrifying yet seductive world of High Place, may soon find it impossible to ever leave this enigmatic house behind.

ODIN DOG HERO OF THE FIRES | Picture Books

by Emma Bland Smith; Illus. by Carrie Salazar (West Margin Press)

One October night in 2017, when wildfire raged in Sonoma and Napa counties, the Hendel family was suddenly evacuated from their homes and farms to escape to safety and forced to leave behind their Pyrenees dog, Odin. Odin refused to leave his nightly post of guarding the family’s eight young goats, despite the family’s desperate attempts to lead him away. Brokenhearted, the Hendels were sure they would never see their dog again.

But when the fire calmed and the family returned home, to their shock they found Odin singed yet safe, along with all the goats and several orphaned deer the dog had protected as well. Odin, Dog Hero of the Fires is a touching and inspirational true tale that honors the bravery and strength of Odin as well as commemorates the stories of those affected by the Tubbs Fire.

Support Latinx-Owned Bookstores During Quarantine

Have you been wondering how you can support Latinx-owned bookstores during quarantine? Many bookstores across the United States have closed for safety due to COVID-19. While some bookstores are completely shut down, some have continued to operate with creative precautions. Latinx-owned bookstores, often found in underserved communities and for underserved communities, are more vulnerable now as a result of losses in sales. If you’re able to buy books at the moment, please check out the list below of Latinx-owned bookstores currently taking orders for contactless pick up and shipping. If your favorite store isn’t listed here, remember you can always buy a gift certificate now for later use. Stay safe and happy shopping!

Cafe con Libros (Brooklyn, NY)

Website

You can place an order through this link.

Chau Luna (Brooklyn, NY)

Website

This bookstore is taking website orders and delivering through USPS. Use the promo code #stayhome for free shipping!

Duende District (Various Locations)

Website

They are taking online orders directly through their website and through their Bookshop page.

El Candil (Puerto Rico)

Website

This bookstore is taking online orders!

Kew & Willow Books (Kew Gardens, NY)

Website

They are taking online orders for curbside pick up and shipping.

La Casita Books (Puerto Rico)

Facebook Page

This store is taking online orders.

Image from @cafeconlibros_bk Instagram.

Image from @milmundosnyc Instagram.

LibroMobile (Santa Ana, CA)

Website

This bookstore is taking orders through their website and their Bookshop page.

Libros 787 (online)

Website

Online orders for shipping here!

Libros in Espanol (online)

Website

Online orders for shipping here!

Mil Mundos (Brooklyn, NY)

Website

They are taking online orders for local bicycle delivery in Bushwick or shipping!

Image from @thelitbar Instagram.

Palabras Bilingual Bookstore (Phoenix, AZ)

Website

This bookstore is taking online orders for curbside pick up or shipping. Free shipping if you spend $15+!

Tia Chucha’s Centro Cultural & Bookstore (Sylmar, CA)

Online Store

Tia Chucha is taking online orders!

The Bookmark (various locations, Puerto Rico)

Website

They are taking online orders for shipping. Free shipping if you spent $50+!

The Lit. Bar (Bronx, NY)

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Guatemalan Memoir 'Knitting the Fog' Explores Home and the Power of Women

Written in bilingual poetry and prose, Claudia D. Hernández's Knitting the Fog is a memoir taking place in Guatemala, through Mexico, across the border, and settling in Los Angeles. Evoked by her writing, you can feel the hot humidity of Mayuelas, the cool air of Tactic, the Guatemalan pueblos central to Hernández’s upbringing and separated by a mountain range, a long bus ride. By ten years old, she leaves her beloved país behind, heading to the United States with her mother and sisters.

Cover Image from The Feminist Press website.

Told in multiple parts, "Part I: Life in Paradise, Also Known as Hell" is the longest of the four, purposeful in its detailing of her family and friends and life in the homeland. We follow Hernández as a child, sometimes referred to as diablita, witness to the domestic abuse between her parents, her father's alcoholism, the legendary throw-down between her mother and a local woman (the title to this story, "Pollita trasquilada" is perfect), and the pain enacted between girls and women. It feels heavy with truth, but the Spanish word that comes to mind as more encompassing of the feeling is pesado, like the humidity that descends on the pueblo. The truth is thick with the awareness and respect for where you come from. And one morning, at seven years old, Hernández wakes up to her mother gone, who left early to begin her journey north, leaving her three daughters in the care of her aunt until she could come back for them. It takes Victoria three years, but she crosses borders again to travel to Mayuelas. She will do the journey north once more with her daughters, her tesoros. It is an act of love and displacement meant to provide them all with better opportunities, though the impacts on her daughters are not all the same; this is not a one size fits all. For Hernández’s oldest sister, Sindy, who is eighteen by this time, the promise of a better life is hollow when it means uprooting her from a life she has chosen, one she wanted.

In “Part II: Our Journey to El Norte,” Hernández’s memories of their journey alongside a coyote is full of tension, naturally, without anything more than the frank narration of a child. The strain of paranoia and suspicion is palpable in their mother’s stress; she who has three children in tow. And one can only admire her, who has a ferocity born from love. With all the dangers this journey presents to its takers, especially to women and girls, the toll this takes on Victoria is another costly sacrifice immigrants and the children of immigrants recognize. Once in Los Angeles, her new home, Hernández describes learning English, her assimilation, and her experience being Guatemalan in a Latinx demographic that is predominantly Mexican. “Part III: The Promised Land” resonates with the Central American experience, perhaps particular to the west coast and border states, and not commonly explored in memoir. There is a certain validation seeing this on the page, detailed from the perspective of an immigrant child herself. “Part IV: Returning to My Motherland,” in which Hernández returns to Guatemala with her mother and her sister Consuelo for a brief visit, we arrive at a moment that feels like the peak of this memoir, what we were climbing towards. Beyond the harrowing journey with the coyote, further than migration and resettlement, or maybe precisely what that journey is meant to lead us to, we arrive at a circle of women who openly share their pain with one another, longing for peace. The story “Victoria” is beautiful and shattering. One must read this book if only to just get to that piece. Published by The Feminist Press, Knitting the Fog is a meaningful addition to the Central American canon.

(Note: a version of this review was posted on @nastymuchachitareads on March 4, 2020.)

Andrea Morales is a daughter of Guatemalan immigrants and from Los Angeles. She graduated from the University of Southern California with a B.A. in English Literature and a minor in Psychology. She now works at Macmillan Publishers as a Junior Contracts Associate for the adult trade division. Her book reviews and recommendations can be found on Instagram at @nastymuchachitareads and she lurks on Twitter as @nastymuchachita.

5 Romance Novels Featuring Cuban Protagonists”

While some admit it’s a strange time to be releasing a book, others say that with all of us social distancing and quarantine-ing we might have a little more time to read. Thanks to modern technology with all its apps and virtual meet ups, staying connected with our familias and loved ones is a little easier. But all this togetherness with familia 24/7 can be a bit much. Especially if your familia is as invested in your life as some of mine—cue one of my tía’s on a recent familia Zoom, “Ay, mija, why aren’t you dating anyone?”

My usual comeback assures her that I’m so busy racing toward an upcoming book deadline that dating my laptop is about all I can handle.

But this time, when that question came winging at me like a leather chancla, I ducked and realized how thankful I am, now more than ever, to be a romance author. Writing books where conflict is slayed, good wins, and love prevails in stories that feature our Latinx experience and culture.

Many of us in Romancelandia like to think of romance as the genre of hope. I believe our genre offers us a chance to write and read about healthy relationships, which is why it’s important for us to see more Latinx characters…more diversity in general…on our shelves. Readers need to see us all overcoming adversity, fighting for and attaining those healthy, fulfilled relationships. That’s why even though our LatinxRom contingent is small but growing, we still need more…more books about our Latinx comunidad in all its facets, more books written by Latinx authors.

We need those numbers to grow faster.

When I sat down to write this article, I had two goals in mind. First, give a #wepa shout out from my mami’s Puerto Rican side of mi familia to my hero, Luis, and his meddling, loud, supportive Navarro familia in my new Key West-set release ISLAND AFFAIR. Second, to shine a spotlight on other books written by Latinx or diverse authors with Cuban characters as the main protagonists.

http://bit.ly/IslandAffairPO  (link for Island Affair)

Here’s the deal though…Remember my mantra from earlier? Just in case, let me repeat it: We need more books about Latinx people, more books written by Latinx authors.

The first time I can remember reading a romance novel that made me feel like I had been dropped into a story world that mirrored my own, I held a book from Kensington’s old Encanto line. That’s where I discovered Caridad Piniero, Berta Platas, Lara Rios, and others. ¡Ave María purísima! Finally, romances by and about our Latinx people and culture. Unfortunately, that line was short-lived. Flash forward to the mid-2000’s when I devoured books like FRIDAY NIGHT CHICAS by Berta, Caridad, Sofia Quintero, and Mary Castillo. Still, so few choices.

Jump ahead to today, and we’re still working to increase our options…but in my bid to spread a little Cuban Latinx book love, here are five titles of note. Some are recent (within the last couple of years) releases. Some will head our way in 2020 (gracias a Dios we have positive news for 2020). All are books you’ll wanna check out!

First up, AMERICAN FAIRYTALE, book 2 in Adriana Herrera’s powerhouse Dreamers series. This book has a clash of two alpha heroes: Camilo Santiago Briggs, a biracial (Cuban Jamaican) NYC social worker, and Thomas Hughes, a self-made millionaire used to getting what he wants. But don’t be deceived, this romance is so much more than a battle of different classes. It’s also a beautiful blending of cultures and outlooks, a moving tale of how our past and internalized pain shape and mold us. It’s sensual, powerful, emotional romance at its finest.

https://adrianaherreraromance.com/american-fairytale/

Next on the list is Alyssa Cole’s AN UNCONDITIONAL FREEDOM: AN EPIC LOVE STORY OF THE CIVIL WAR, book 3 in the Loyal League series. Alyssa Cole is a master crafter of contemporary and historical fiction. AN UNCONDITIONAL FREEDOM pairs Janeta Sanchez, a Cuban heroine who is the child of an enslaved woman and the plantation owner who married her, with Daniel Cumberland, a Black man born free in the North but kidnapped and sold into slavery until he was rescued and became a member of the Loyal League, a covert organization of Black spies. When her father is imprisoned by the Union, Janeta is forced to become a double agent in the Loyal League teamed with Daniel. What ensues is a tale of hidden agendas, family loyalty, blurred lines, and healing love. Part historical fiction, part emotionally-compelling romance, overall an exceptional read!

https://alyssacole.com 

Our third book is a “coming soon” novel by Caridad Piniero. Get ready for a sweet, summer Hallmark beach read featuring the beloved romance trope the older brother’s friend to lovers. SOUTH BEACH LOVE pits our hero and heroine, both chefs, battling it out in their separate bids to help rival teens throw the best quinceañera Miami has ever seen. Let me see…familia traditions and drama woven around two shouldn’t-be lovers whose attraction heats things up in the kitchen? #buenprovecho

https://www.caridad.com/books/charity-pineiro/south-beach-love/#teaser

The last two books on our list of five are an “already released” and a “coming soon” YA romance. DON’T DATE ROSA SANTOS, Nina Moreno’s spectacular debut, seems to touch on an area of doubt many readers experience in their own lives, some without even realizing it. This YA romance about a teen straddling the life she knows in her small Florida beach town and the life her abuela left behind when she fled Cuba years ago has Rosa questioning which world she fits into. But, it’s more than a simple coming of age story. It’s one about familia, finding and accepting yourself, healing, and growing. As one reviewer says, “It’s a love letter to Cuba through our protagonist’s eyes.” I say, don’t miss it!

https://ninamoreno.com/books/

And finally, if you’re a fan of Nina Moreno’s writing, it’s sounds like you might also be a fan of this fall 2020 YA release, A CUBAN GIRL’S GUIDE TO TEA AND TOMORROW by Laura Taylor Namey. This story about a Miami teen whose best laid plans for her future suddenly fall apart leading her parents to send her to mentally recuperate with familia friends in small town England sounds like another self-discovery gem. I haven’t read an early copy, but it’s on my radar, and you might want to add it to your “watch for” list.

 https://www.laurataylornamey.com

That’s our 5 Romances with Cuban Characters for you. Next time, I hope we see a big change in the release lists, so that my post on Cuban or Puerto Rican or Afro-Latinx or….you get the picture…becomes more of a listicle with short blurbs and links porque there are too many titles for a longer write-up on each! Now that would be cause for celebration, verdad? #Wepa

Note: Here’s one such list from 2018, “50 Must-Read Romances by Latinx Authors” compiled by Silvana Reyes Lopez for Book Riot.

https://bookriot.com/2018/10/24/must-read-romance-novels-by-latinx-authors/

Priscilla Oliveras is a USA Today bestselling author and 2018 RWA® RITA® double finalist who writes contemporary romance with a Latinx flavor. Proud of her Puerto Rican-Mexican heritage, she strives to bring authenticity to her novels by sharing her Latinx culture with readers. She and her work have earned praise from the Washington Post, New York Times, Entertainment Weekly, Publishers Weekly, and Booklist, amongst others. Priscilla earned her MFA in Writing Popular Fiction from Seton Hill University and currently serves as adjunct faculty in the program and teaches the online class “Romance Writing” for ed2go. While she’s a devotee of the romance genre, Priscilla is also a sports fan, beach lover, and Zumba aficionado, who often practices the art of napping in her backyard hammock.

To follow along on her fun-filled and hectic life, visit her on the web at https://prisoliveras.com/books/, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/prisoliveras, or on Twitter and Instagram via @prisoliveras.

'So Damn Dominican' Excerpt from Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo

Latinx in Publishing is pleased to share ‘I’m So Damn Dominican’ an excerpt from Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo.

From the bestselling and award-winning author Elizabeth Acevedo comes a new novel-in-verse! Camino lives for when her father visits her in the Dominican Republic. But this time, she arrives at the airport to see crowds of crying people. In New York City, Yahaira is called to the principal’s office, where she finds out her father has died in a plane crash. Separated by distance—and Papi’s secrets—it seems the two girls have lost everything of their father until they learn of each other.

ELIZABETH ACEVEDO is a New York Times bestselling author of The Poet X and With the Fire on High. Her critically-acclaimed debut novel, The Poet X, won the 2018 National Book Award for Young People’s Literature. She is also the recipient of the Printz Award for Excellence in Young Adult Fiction, the CILIP Carnegie Medal, and the Boston Globe-Hornbook Award. Additionally, she was honored with the 2019 Pure Belpré Author Award for celebrating, affirming, and portraying Latinx culture and experience.  

May 2020 Latinx Releases

May 5, 2020

BUDDHA TAKES THE MOUND: ENLIGHTENMENT IN 9 INNINGS | Nonfiction

by Donald Lopez Jr. (St. Martin’s Press)

Buddha Takes the Mound: Enlightenment in 9 Innings is The Tao of Pooh for baseball. Funny, moving, and enlightening, this is a read that will engross, enrich, and charm any baseball fan.

At once a love letter to the sport and an engaging introduction to Buddhism, it shows how the Buddha invented baseball to teach us deep truths about the world, about ourselves, and about each other. Lopez believes that Buddhism provides a lens for us to see baseball in a new way, a way that makes us love the game even more, a way that makes us ponder profound questions about winning and losing, about who we are, about finitude and infinitude, about birth and death.

As Lopez reveals, not only is Buddhism integral to baseball; but baseball is Buddhism, and baseball is ourselves.

OUR FRIEND HEDGEHOG | Chapter Book

by Lauren Castillo (Knopf)

Hedgehog lives on a teeny-tiny island with only her stuffed dog, Mutty, for company. When a great storm carries Mutty away, she embarks on a quest to find her friend. Following the trail of clues Mutty left behind, brave Hedgehog meets a wiggly Mole, a wordy Owl, a curmudgeonly Beaver, a scatterbrained Hen and Chicks, and a girl who's new to the neighborhood, Annika May. With bravery and teamwork, there's nothing that can stop these seven from finding Mutty, but along the way they discover something even more important: each other.

SANTIAGO’S ROAD HOME | Middle Grade

by Alexandra Diaz (Paula Wiseman)

The coins in Santiago’s hand are meant for the bus fare back to his abusive abuela’s house. Except he refuses to return; he won’t be missed. His future is uncertain until he meets the kind, maternal María Dolores and her young daughter, Alegría, who help Santiago decide what comes next: He will accompany them to el otro lado, the United States of America. They embark with little, just backpacks with water and a bit of food. To travel together will require trust from all parties, and Santiago is used to going it alone. None of the three travelers realizes that the journey through Mexico to the border is just the beginning of their story.

SAL & GABI FIX THE UNIVERSE | Middle Grade

by Carols Hernandez (Disney Hyperion)

Sal Vidon doesn't want to live a Mami-free life. Pulling different versions of his mother from other universes is how he copes with missing his own, who died years ago. But Sal's father, a calamity physicist, is trying to shut down all the wormholes Sal creates, because Papi thinks they are eroding the very fabric of our world. All of Papi's efforts are in vain, however, because a Gabi from another universe has gone rogue and is popping up all over the place, seeking revenge for the fact that her world has been destroyed. While Sal and Gabi work together to keep both Papi and Rogue Gabi under control, they also have to solve the mystery of Yasmany, who has gone missing from school. Could it have something to do with the wormhole in the back of his locker? Readers who enjoyed Sal and Gabi Break the Universe will relish being back in the world of Culeco Academy and the Coral Castle along with such unforgettable characters as American Stepmom, the Gabi-Dads, Principal Torres, and the sassy entropy sweeper. With multiple Sals and Gabis in charge, it's no wonder this sequel offers even more hilarious weirdness and love than the first book.

SWASHBY AND THE SEA | Picture Book

by Beth Ferry; Illus. by Juana Martinez-Neal (HMH Books for Young Readers)

Captain Swashby loves the sea, his oldest friend. And he loves his life by the sea just as it is: salty and sandy and serene.

One day, much to Swashby’s chagrin, a young girl and her granny commandeer the empty house next door. All Swashby wants is for his new neighbors to GO AWAY and take their ruckus with them.

When Swashby begins to leave notes in the sand for his noisy neighbors, however, the beach interferes with the messages that are getting across. Could it be that the captain’s oldest friend, the sea, knows what Swashby needs even better than he knows himself?

CLAP WHEN YOU LAND | Young Adult

by Elizabeth Acevedo (Quill Tree Books)

Camino Rios lives for the summers when her father visits her in the Dominican Republic. But this time, on the day when his plane is supposed to land, Camino arrives at the airport to see crowds of crying people…

In New York City, Yahaira Rios is called to the principal’s office, where her mother is waiting to tell her that her father, her hero, has died in a plane crash.

Separated by distance—and Papi’s secrets—the two girls are forced to face a new reality in which their father is dead and their lives are forever altered.

And then, when it seems like they’ve lost everything of their father, they learn of each other. 

May 12, 2020

BIG SEXY: IN HIS OWN WORDS | Memoir

by Bartolo Colón & Michael Stahl (Abrams Image)

Bartolo Colón—also known as Big Sexy—is a baseball icon and one of the most beloved players to ever play the game. In a career spanning 21 years, Colón has won the Cy Young Award and won more games than any other Latin American–born pitcher. But more importantly, Big Sexy has captured the hearts of fans of the game as well as the stars he has played against. Colón plays the game the way it was meant to be. In Big Sexy: In His Own Words, Bartolo Colón opens up as never before. The result is a touching and deeply personal story of a truly unique baseball life.

THE MADRE DE AGUAS OF CUBA | Middle Grade

by Adam Godwitz & Emma Otheguy; Illus. by Hatem Aly (Dutton)

In Cuba, it is believed that a mysterious water serpent--the Madre de aguas--is responsible for providing and protecting the fresh water of the island. But the serpent is missing, and a drought has gripped the island. Uchenna, Elliot, and Professor Fauna fly to Cuba and endeavor to rescue the Madre de aguas. Unfortunately, it tries to kill them. Meanwhile, the Schmoke Brothers' goons are driving around Havana, dumping pink sludge into the sewers. What is going on? Can Elliot and Uchenna end the drought? Stop the Schmokes? Or will the creature they are trying to save just eat them instead?

SERPIENTE EMPLUMADA, CORAZÓN DEL CIELO | Fiction

by David Bowles (Vintage Español)

Las leyendas mitológicas reunidas en Serpiente emplumada, corazón del cielo trazan la historia del mundo desde sus inicios en los sueños del dios dual, Ometeotl, hasta la llegada de los conquistadores españoles a México y la caída de la gran ciudad Tenochtitlán. En el transcurso de esta historia sabremos de los Héroes Gemelos, la Serpiente Emplumada y el Corazón del Cielo, y de cómo construyeron el mundo sobre la espalda de un leviatán; del nahualli que cambia de forma; y de los aluxes, aquellos seres con forma de elfos conocidos por ayudar a los vagabundos. Y finalmente, hallaremos cuentos aztecas sobre la llegada de los extranjeros barbudos provenientes del otro lado del mar, que buscan aniquilar el gobierno de Montezuma y destruir las historias que estamos leyendo.

May 18, 2020

STARCROSSED | Romance

by Allie Therin (Carina Press)

Psychometric Rory Brodigan’s life hasn’t been the same since the day he met Arthur Kenzie. Arthur’s continued quest to contain supernatural relics that pose a threat to the world has captured Rory’s imagination—and his heart. But Arthur’s upper-class upbringing still leaves Rory worried that he’ll never measure up, especially when Arthur’s aristocratic ex arrives in New York.

For Arthur, there’s only Rory. But keeping the man he’s fallen for safe is another matter altogether. When a group of ruthless paranormals throw the city into chaos, the two men’s strained relationship leaves Rory vulnerable to a monster from Arthur’s past.

With dark forces determined to tear them apart, Rory and Arthur will have to draw on every last bit of magic up their sleeves. And in the end, it’s the connection they’ve formed without magic that will be tested like never before.

May 19, 2020

FEDERICO AND THE WOLF | Picture Book

by Rebecca J. Gomez; Illus. by Elisa Chavarri (Clarion)

With his red hoodie on and his bicycle basket full of food, Federico is ready to visit Abuelo. But on the way, he meets a hungry wolf. And now his grandfather bears a striking resemblance to el lobo. Fortunately, Federico is quick and clever—and just happens to be carrying a spicy surprise! Federico drives the wolf away, and he and Abuelo celebrate with a special salsa. Recipe included.

A TASTE OF SAGE | Romance

by Yaffa S. Santos (Harper Perennial)

Lumi Santana is a chef with the gift of synesthesia—she can perceive a person’s emotions just by tasting their cooking. Despite being raised by a single mother who taught her that dreams and true love were silly fairy tales, she decides to take a chance and puts her heart and savings into opening a fusion restaurant in Inwood, Manhattan. The restaurant offers a mix of the Dominican cuisine she grew up with and other world cuisines that have been a source of culinary inspiration to her.

When Lumi’s eclectic venture fails, she is forced to take a position as a sous chef at a staid, traditional French restaurant in midtown owned by Julien Dax, a celebrated chef known for his acid tongue as well as his brilliant smile. Lumi and Julien don’t get along in the kitchen--to say Lumi is irritated by Julien’s smug attitude is an understatement, and she secretly vows never to taste his cooking. Little does she know that her resolve doesn’t stand a chance against Julien’s culinary prowess.

As Julien produces one delectable dish after another, each one tempting Lumi with its overwhelming aromas and gorgeous presentations, she can no longer resist and samples one of his creations. She isn’t prepared for the feelings that follow as she’s overcome with intense emotions. She begins to crave his cooking throughout the day, which throws a curveball in her plan to save up enough money and move on as soon as possible. Plus, there’s also the matter of Esme, Julien’s receptionist who seems to always be near and watching. As the attraction between Lumi and Julien simmers, Lumi experiences a tragedy that not only complicates her professional plans, but her love life as well...

WE ARE NOT FROM HERE | Middle Grade

by Jenny Torres Sanchez (Philomel)

Pulga has his dreams.
Chico has his grief.
Pequeña has her pride.

And these three teens have one another. But none of them have illusions about the town they've grown up in and the dangers that surround them. Even with the love of family, threats lurk around every corner. And when those threats become all too real, the trio knows they have no choice but to run: from their country, from their families, from their beloved home.

Crossing from Guatemala through Mexico, they follow the route of La Bestia, the perilous train system that might deliver them to a better life--if they are lucky enough to survive the journey. With nothing but the bags on their backs and desperation drumming through their hearts, Pulga, Chico, and Pequeña know there is no turning back, despite the unknown that awaits them. And the darkness that seems to follow wherever they go.

In this striking portrait of lives torn apart, the plight of migrants at the U.S. southern border is brought to light through poignant, vivid storytelling. An epic journey of danger, resilience, heartache, and hope.

May 31, 2020

JUNIOR’S DREAM | Middle Grade

by Rebecca J. Gomez; Illus. by Elisa Chavarri (Arte Público Press/Piñata Books)

For generations, Junior s family traveled to West Texas to pick cotton. The work was demanding, but the money earned was a blessing. For Junior, a teenager on the cusp of manhood, the annual trip offers a chance to reflect on love of family, tradition and his parents courage. The kids always help pack the 1951 Chrysler station wagon fondly known as La Blanca. It takes seven hours to make the drive from Piedras Negras, Mexico, to the fields, and this year Junior s youngest sister is old enough to join in the work. Her siblings are excited to show her the ropes, but they worry too. The farmers had a bumper crop and they expect the Mexican workers adults and children to work seven days a week, from sunup to sundown. Can eight-year-old Espy drag a heavy bag of cotton up and down the rows all day long? But an unexpected event shakes the family to its core, leaving them in fear for Junior s life and worried they may not be able to earn the money needed to see them through the coming year. Based on the author s experiences, this short, bilingual novel for teens follows a boy s journey of self-discovery and continued faith in a dream born of his father s tears, his mother s determination and his ancestors hopes.

SAND AND SONG: THE ABCS OF THE RIVER | Picture Book

by Alma Flor Ada; Illus. by Gabhor Utomo (Arte Público Press/Piñata Books)

These poems brim with the beauty of the natural world and the joy found in the great outdoors. There are stars that bathe in the river, the sun that hides behind the mountain and a stream that wraps itself in shadows. In one verse, the authors note there’s only a short distance from the river to the freeway leading back to the crowded, noisy city, “yet those few kilometers / allow us to dwell / in a very different world.”

Reflecting time spent with family enjoying nature, these poems were conceived while Alma Flor Ada camped along the Yuba River with her daughter, Rosalma Zubizarreta-Ada, who created the English-language versions. With gorgeous illustrations by Gabhor Utomo depicting the countryside and kids playing at a river, this bilingual picture book introduces children to both the joy of poetry and spending time outside.

THE HERO OF CINCO DE MAYO IGNACIO ZARAGOZA SEGUÍN | Picture Book

by José Angel Gutiérrez; Illus. by Stephen Marchesi (Arte Público Press/Piñata Books)

This bilingual picture book recounts the story of the Battle of Puebla and the Mexican army’s unexpected win against a much stronger foe. Today this victory is celebrated in the United States as Cinco de Mayo, a day to commemorate the Mexican roots of many US citizens. This non-fiction picture book for older elementary school students contains realistic illustrations depicting the Mexican general and his times.

WISHBONE | Young Adult

by Anna Garcia Schaper (Arte Público Press/Piñata Books)

Pilar’s mother has been extra vigilant about her fifteen-year-old daughter’s diet after she came home from school in tears. The truth is, Pilar wouldn’t mind losing some weight. She dreams of becoming an actor and wants to try out for the school production of “Our Town,” but she’s reminded constantly that she’s too ugly, too fat, too Mexican.

With the encouragement of some new friends and her feisty grandmother who thinks she’s perfect just the way she is, Pilar works up the nerve to try out for the play—in spite of continued harassment by Becca Barlowe and her posse. But when a handsome high school jock plays a mean trick on her that becomes a social media sensation, Pilar once again finds herself using food to anesthetize her pain.

This appealing novel for mature teens juxtaposes Pilar’s story with her grandmother’s when she was married to a male chauvinist years earlier in Laredo, Texas. Both women must struggle to find their own voice in a world where others insist on defining them as “less than.”  Capturing the heartache of seeking—and accepting—one’s true self, Anna Garcia Schaper movingly explores the strength of family bonds and their importance in overcoming difficult and sometimes tragic circumstances.

HOLLY HERNANDEZ AND THE DEATH OF DISCO | Young Adult

by Richie Narvaez (Arte Público Press/Piñata Books)

Holly Hernandez, voted “Miss Bright of ’79” and valedictorian at her previous school, is excited to start fresh at Flatbush Technical High School, one of the most competitive public schools in New York City. She’ll be one of thousands; anonymous. But her dreams of a normal school life disappear when her mother, a homicide detective, has to investigate the murder of Mr. Friedman, the social studies teacher.

One of her classmates, Xander Herrera, quickly becomes the primary suspect. The tall, awkward boy is socially inept, but Holly doesn’t think he’s a murderer. She is intent on exonerating him—but he wants nothing to do with her. To Xander, Holly is the overly enthusiastic student who always sits in the front row and answers all the teachers’ questions—correctly. He hates perky people!

Eventually cleared of the crime, Xander is determined to find the killer before Holly. As they race to solve the case, their separate investigations lead to a slew of suspects, including another teacher seen arguing with Friedman and a mysterious person named Steve who met with him several times before his death. Could it have been a disgruntled student? Ultimately, a trophy for a disco-dancing contest leads the intrepid young detectives to the Mission Venus nightclub and a murderer intent on killing again!

Latinx Authors and BIPOC-owned Bookstores Came Together for a Virtual Fiesta

Indie bookstores The Lit. Bar, Mil Mundos, and Word Up Community Bookshop recently co-hosted a virtual conversation featuring authors Angie Cruz (Dominicana), Jaquira Diaz (Ordinary Girls), Carolina de Robertis (Cantoras), Lilliam Rivera (Goldie Vance), Melissa Rivero (The Affairs of the Falcons), and Natalia Sylvester (Running), moderated by book blogger extraordinaire @lupita.reads that left us feeling energized and inspired! Attendees simply had to online order one or more books from a list of 12 new releases by Latinx authors at one of the three participating bookstores, to receive a link for the event, which took place on April 16, 2020.

All in all, it was a delightful example of how our communities can come together in celebration and support of authors, indie bookstores, and readers in ways that benefit everyone. Afterwards, we were lucky enough to chat with author Angie Cruz, and hear more about how El Gran Combo came about, and learn how others might replicate it.

What sparked the idea for this? 

For months now, Jaquira Díaz, Carolina de Robertis and I had been working together to think about how we can galvanize community among Latinx writers to support bookstores that serve our communities. It was both shocking and painful to take walks on Broadway and see the long stretches of closed stores block after block. I feared and still fear that many of these businesses will never open again. So I reached out to Veronica Liu at Word Up Community Bookstore and suggested the virtual fiesta event that entailed three bookstores, five authors and twelve participating books, hoping the event would drive online book sales to those stores. 

What resources did you all need to pull it off?

 I think the most significant resources were trust, generosity and openness. We are in a time where collaboration and sharing resources is crucial for all our survival—mind, body, and spirit. The participating writers were so game to amplify the event and to have bookstagrammer @lupitareads moderate and energize the conversation with her devoted following of readers helped to make the event a success. Logistically, Veronica Liu (founder of Word Up), supported and strategized with the other bookstores, Mil Mundos and The Lit Bar to do all the promotional materials and be online book selling ready. 

What was most surprising to you about the event? Most joyful? What was your biggest takeaway from El Gran Combo?

Jaquira, Carolina and I have been planning our El Gran Combo tour for a long while now. In fact we were set to visit five cities in June to promote our paperbacks. This event was a way to harness all that energy and planning and do some good with it. We named our tour after a band for a reason. We wanted it to be joyful and as much as possible have music and dancing involved. We called the event a virtual fiesta, because we so need a party right now, and the 155 people who showed up were eager for the conversation. Many who attended purchased multiple books and all three bookstores broke record sales for that day. I was told that there was an upswing in sales after. All the writers involved are activists in their communities, we write books and we care about social justice. This is true about Lupita and the booksellers as well. This is key. The chat room's excitement from those attending was so joyful. But for sure most surprising was Carolina breaking out into song. My biggest takeaway is that we are in this together so we might as well work together to bring the joy but also help each other survive this.

During the event, you mentioned that you are only interested in moving into spaces where the “burner is hot” and moving away from people who don’t want to engage in the work. Can you talk more about your journey with that idea? What is sparking the most fire for you right now? 

Ha! I said that?! I believe the context was me thinking about all the rejections my work has received throughout my career. It was demoralizing and made me wonder if there were other things I should be dedicating myself to. But what I keep learning in this business, and life in general, is that if there is inspiration, we must keep doing the work. And if we lose inspiration we must move toward those spaces that inspire us so we can then have the fire to do the work. Not keep banging our heads on the slammed doors and walls that have never truly created a space for us as Latinx writers. Find the spaces where you can cultivate that love for what you are doing. Sometimes you can find that in a learning space, like a workshop. We are fortunate now because there are so many writing workshops that mentor writers of color. Our main job is to get better at telling it and keeping that fire in the belly alive. The publishing machine is a business. Many publishing houses were wrong when they projected that Dominicana did not have a market. But the novel has found its readership. What kept me at it amidst all those rejections was my nurturing community who remind me that my work mattered. 

Anything else you’d like to add?

Please encourage your readers to make their online book purchases from Word up, Mil Mundos and The Lit. Bar. And to continue to support these Latinx writers!

'The Undocumented Americans' the Self-Proclaimed Punk Manifesto Not Written for the White Gaze

More and more it feels like there is no other book to read in this moment than Karla Cornejo Villavicencio’s The Undocumented Americans. Her voice is the voice to listen to in the present, as cities slowly, then rapidly, empty of their residents. Her voice is for the future, a voice we’ve absolutely needed in the past. It feels like there is no other book besides this one and, as magnified as the statement may be, it doesn’t make the sentiment of it any less true. We can skip straight to the urgency of this book, an urgency of many years. But maybe for some of us, it's a newfound urgency, a timely urgency, a humanizing urgency, an emotionally thrilling urgency, and in that case any reader will surely recognize and appreciate the integrity of this book.

Cover image from Penguin Random House website.

Villavicencio is a writer and one of the first undocumented immigrants to graduate from Harvard, having arrived to New York City from Ecuador when she was five. In the book’s introduction, she says that she decided to write this nonfiction mix of memoir and reporting because she thought she "could write something better, something that rang true to me and people I knew and loved. And I thought that I was the best person to do it." She's right and she did. She made this decision the day after the 2016 election.

In six chapters, Villavicencio researches and reports on the lives of undocumented people in the United States, from different walks of life, in similar circumstances. She felt the safest traveling to and conducting interviews in New York, Miami, Flint, Cleveland, and New Haven, research inextricable from her and her family's experiences. One of the most remarkable things about this book is its reporting alongside her life, the throwing away of the "objective" journalistic approach. While reading the work, letting the walls down and investing yourself alongside her are unavoidable. This book is uncompromising in that way. There is no distance anymore, hardly even an arms-length. For what? 

To be up close means to learn and understand what migrant workers had to do at Ground Zero. The federally funded clean-up crew included undocumented migrants who went on to suffer life-threatening diseases, trauma, and mental illnesses. In the water crisis of Flint, the undocumented are unable to access clean water without a government-issued ID. Undocumented people are often barred from obtaining healthcare, instead having to turn to botanical alternatives. And to bring us closer yet: right now there is no escaping the grim reality undocumented people face amid this global pandemic. There is no security for them. Wages are lost as a result of businesses closing down and subsequent layoffs; families deciding they don’t need housekeeping and childcare services as parents find themselves at home with their children. Undocumented migrants are also at the frontline of exposure, holding some of the most essential roles in the nation. Their positions are made so much more precarious because of their status. ICE has arrested immigrants in hospitals and grocery stores. 

The Undocumented Americans is a book dedicated to its subject, showing the reader the cost of resilience in addition to resilience itself; the fierce sincerity of Villavicencio's motives; her sense of humor and its tenderness; the love on every page. During the most uncertain moments of late, the spirit of this book stays with the reader, felt in the momentary independence of a car full of undocumented women en route to a Miami casino before Villavicencio reminds them she has an early flight, the spirit of a car full of chingonas rerouting to a bar. This book is one to own, out March 24th from One World.

Andrea Morales is a daughter of Guatemalan immigrants and from Los Angeles. She graduated from the University of Southern California with a B.A. in English Literature and a minor in Psychology. She now works at Macmillan Publishers as a Junior Contracts Associate for the adult trade division. Her book reviews and recommendations can be found on Instagram at @nastymuchachitareads and she lurks on Twitter as @nastymuchachita.